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Policy 2520: Graduation with Honors for Undergraduate Students

Download Policy 2520: Graduation with Honors for Undergraduate Students

This PDF is the official text of this policy. If there are any incongruities between the text of the HTML version (rightbelow) and the text within the PDF file, the PDF will be considered accurate and overriding.

University Policy #2520

Section 1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide recognition of high levels of academic success by defining the standards according to which undergraduate students qualify for graduation with honors.

Section 2. Authority

This policy is issued pursuant to authority granted under the Rules and Regulations of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU).

Section 3. Effective Date

Upon signature by the president, this policy shall become effective at the beginning of 2012-2013 academic year and shall remain in effect until modified or expressly revoked.

Section 4. Responsibility

Responsibility for implementation of this policy is assigned to the Provost and Vice President Academic Affairs and the Registrar’s Office.

Section 5. Related Policies and Procedures

Related policies or procedures that may apply include:

  • University Procedure 252 Graduation With Honors
  • University Policy 2020 Baccalaureate Degree Requirements, Modification of Student Degree Program, and Graduation Requirements

Section 6. Graduation With Honors Designations

  1. The honors designations and the cumulative GPA required to achieve them are:
    • Summa Cum Laude—3.900 or higher
    • Magna Cum Laude—3.800 to 3.899
    • Cum Laude—3.700 to 3.799
  2. To qualify for an honors designation, undergraduate students must have completed a minimum of 30 upper division credits in graded (A-F courses) at Metropolitan State University.
  3. The cumulative GPA will be calculated on the basis of all graded courses taken at Metropolitan State University.
  4. Eligibility for recognition of graduation with honors at commencement is based on the cumulative GPA achieved by the end of the semester preceding the semester in which a student graduates.
  5. Undergraduate students who have qualified for graduation as defined in University Policy 2020 will qualify for a graduation with honors designation on their transcript if, at the time the final credits are recorded and the final cumulative GPA is calculated, the cumulative GPA meets one of the honors designations.
  6. Students who qualified for recognition at commencement will not have an honors designation recorded on their transcript if, at the time the final credits are recorded and the final cumulative GPA is calculated, the cumulative GPA does not meet one of the honors designations.

Section 7. Exceptions

Exceptions to this policy require approval from the Provost and Vice President Academic Affairs.

Section 7. Review

This policy will be reviewed and modified as appropriate.

Section 8. Signatures

Issued on this 16th day of May 2012.

Gary Seiler, Interim Provost and Vice President Academic Affairs

Sue K. Hammersmith, President